McDonnell Awards OxyContin Civil Settlement Funds

I know the people here in SWVA appreciate the work Bob McDonnell and John Brownlee (he goes unmentioned in the press release?) on this case.

Abingdon- Attorney General Bob McDonnell traveled to Abingdon this afternoon to award more than $650,000 in OxyContin civil settlement grants to three agencies for use in Southwest Virginia. The Attorney General held a press conference at the Virginia Highlands Airport at which he was joined by Senator Phillip Puckett (D-Russell), Senator William Wampler (R-Bristol), and Delegate Terry Kilgore (R-Gate City).

The grant funds are the result of the civil settlement by 26 states and the District of Columbia with Purdue Pharma L.P regarding the promotion and marketing of the opioid pain medication OxyContin. The Virginia Office of the Attorney General was one of seven offices that led the multistate investigation leading to the settlement.

The grants were awarded today to the following three organizations:

• The Appalachian Substance Abuse Coalition for Prevention and Treatment: $200,000.
• The Department of Mines, Minerals and Energy: $150,000
• The Department of Mental Health, Mental Retardation and Substance Abuse Services: $306,413.80

Further details on the funding recipients and how the funds will be utilized can be found below.

Attorney General McDonnell noted, “The tragedy of OxyContin addiction and abuse has touched every city and county in Southwest Virginia. According to the State Medical Examiner in Roanoke, from 1996 until 2005 228 Virginians in this region lost their lives due to oxycodone overdoses. Oxycodone is the main ingredient in OxyContin. Many others lost their jobs, their families, and their futures. OxyContin is so highly addictive that for many, once they started taking the drug, there was no turning back.”

McDonnell continued, “With these funds, we have the opportunity to assist these individuals and their families. The grants awarded today will help those with OxyContin addiction and dependency issues to get their lives back on track. OxyContin abuse has ravaged this beautiful part of Virginia. This is a step forward in ending this tragedy. ”

I don't think there is a family around here that has not been touched by the oxycodone tragedy.

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